Endless chain sawmill nigger



June 13, 1961 c. s. LAMBSON 2,988,117

ENDLESS CHAIN SAWMILL NIGGER Filed April 27, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I (bar/es 5. Z 174g 3 TQ/S'ecres-Z A T TOPNEY June 13, 1961 3, SY LAMBSQN 2,988,117

ENDLESS CHAIN SAWMILL" NIGGER Filed April 27, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. (bar/es 5, Z Qmsvn fitj. 8 BY 7.7a Sec/est ATTORNEY United States Patent This invention is a nigger and which nigger includes hydraulic control means for raising and lowering the crowd and for controlling the movement of the chain on the crowd.

In previously used log turners the linkage between the controls and the crowd has been mechanical or electrical or an electro-mechanical combination. These turners possess the inherent characteristics of the reaction of the crowd to the turning of a log being divorced from the controls so that the operator at the controls does not have the feel of the crowd. The operator visually sees the moving of the log by the crowd but does not feel this moving.

In this invention the controls hydraulically connect with the mechanical means for controlling the movement of the crowd and the chain on the crowd. Because of this hydraulical connection the operator feels the movement of the crowd and the log.

An object of this invention is the provision of a nigger wherein the operator has a positive feel of the operation of the crowd and the chain.

Another object is to provide a nigger having a quick take-up of the crowd to engage a log and a quick return of the crowd to its rest position.

A further object is to provide a nigger of a compact size so that it is easy to install the same in existing mills.

A still further object is the provision of a nigger having greater output than existing niggers.

Another object is to provide a nigger having relatively few working parts.

An additional object is the provision of a nigger which 'is easy to service and to maintain in an operating state.

A still further object is to provide a nigger which is economical to manufacture.

These and other objects will be more clearly brought 'forth by reference to the specific description of the invention in the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan vieW of a specific embodiment of the invention constructed in accordance with the preferred teachings thereof.

FIGURE 2, taken on line 2-2. of FIGURE 1, is a lateral cross-sectional view taken on the drive shaft for the chain on the crowd.

FIGURE 3 is a side-elevational view of the nigger illustrating the means for raising and lowering the nigger, and illustrates in phantom the nigger in a raised position.

FIGURE 4, on an enlarged scale, is a detailed view of the chain with a tooth thereon.

FIGURE 5, taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 3, is a lateral-vertical cross-sectional view of the chain looking at the tooth.

FIGURE 6, taken on line 6-6 of FIGURE 7, is a side-elevational view looking at the inside of a clutch used in the nigger.

FIGURE 7, taken on line 7-7 of FIGURE 6, is a lateral cross-sectional view of the clutch; and

FIGURE 8 is a schematic diagram of the fluid pressure system used for activating the two clutches used in the nigger.

Referring to the drawings it is seen that the invention is a nigger 10. This nigger comprises a supporting base having two parallel, spaced-apart longitudinal members 11. These members at each end are joined by two parallel, spaced-apart lateral members 12. The members 11 2 and 12 are U-channels and are welded into the integral supporting base.

On this base are positioned two shafts 13 and 14. These shafts are positioned transversely with respect to the longitudinal members 11. The shaft 13 is positioned at approximately the mid-position of the base and the shaft 14 near one end. The shaft 13 is journalled in bearings 15 which are positioned onto the channel members by bolts 16. The shaft 14 is journalled in bearings 17. These bearings are positioned on pillow blocks 18 (FIGURE 2) by bolts 26.

On the shaft 14 are positioned two spaced-apart sleeves 21 which are free to rotate on the shaft. These sleeves comprise a central portion 22 having an annular passageway for cofitting with the shaft, and a hub 23. Inside of the hub is a ball bearing race 24. On each hub is a lever arm 25 which extends almost the length of the base. The inner portion of this arm, i.e., near the hub 23, on each side is reinforced by a plate 26. In each arm near the outer end is a longitudinal slot 27. Positioned between these two arms and cofitting with the slots 27 is a U-shaped spacer 28 for spacing-apart the two arms. Running between these arms is a shaft 30 which is threaded on its end to receive nuts 31. On this shaft and between the arms is a sprocket 32. On the shaft 14 and positioned between the two sleeves 21 is a sprocket 33. This sprocket 33 is keyed to the shaft 14 by a key 34 in a manner well-known to the art. Running between the two sprockets 32 and 33 is an endless chain 35.

Also, between the two arms 25 are two longitudinal bracing members 36 (FIGURE 3). The plane of these members is normal to the plane of the arms 25. These members :function tostiifen and to brace the arms and also to act as guides and supports for the chain 35.

The chain 35 is a toothed chain comprising links 37 as ordinarily employed in a chain and teeth 38. The tooth is of an especial configuration having a leading edge 40 (FIGURE 4) sloping forwardly. Then, the tooth slopes backwardly and "curves downwardly on its trailing edge. The base of the leading edge and the base of the forward part are welded at 41 to the link 37. In one particular the leading edge 40 sloped forwardly at about an angle of 13. The length of the tooth being about one and one-half inches and a height of about eight-tenths of an inch. These teeth were spaced about thirteen inches apart. At this spacing the teeth were spaced far enough apart so that one tooth would not interfere with another tooth biting into a log. Also, one tooth by itself was sufiicient to roll or turn a log.

On the outer end of the shaft 14 is a sprocket 42 which is keyed by key 43 to the shaft. 0n the shaft 13 are two clutch assemblies 50 and 51. These two assemblies are of the same construction and therefore will be described as the same. Actually these two assemblies are hydraulic brakes as used on an automobile and are used in this invention as aslip clutch.

The clutch comprises a backing plate assembly 52 and a drum assembly 53 (FIGURES 6 and 7).

The backing plate assembly 52 comprises a hub 54 and a circular backing plate 55. This hub is keyed by 56 to the shaft 13 in the manner well-known in the art. The hub has a number of drilled passageways 57 and the plate 55 has a number of tapped holes 58 cofitting with 57. Bolts 60 in said passageways 57 and in said tapped holes 58 unite the plate 55 and the hub 54.

In the backing plate 55 is an access opening 61. On the inside of this plate and fitting over the opening 61 is a hydraulic cylinder 62 having two opposed piston rods 63 projecting outwardly from the ends of the cylinder. Positioned above the cylinder 62 is an anchor pin 64 which is firmly positioned onto the backing plate 55.

Two brake shoes or clutch shoes are positioned onto the plate 55 by means of pins 66 which connect with the plate. The upper part of the shoe is positioned by an anchor plate 67 which restricts the movement of the shoe from the plate. In the upper part of each shoe is an aperture 68. An anchor spring 70 has one end in the aperture 68 and the other end connecting with a pin 64.

In addition to the anchor plate 67 positioning the brake shoes 65 the piston rods 63 of the hydraulic cylinder 62 have a slot (not shown) in their ends for cofitting with the shoes 65, and thereby position the same.

The lower ends of the shoes are connected by an adjustment linkage 71 having a threaded shaft 72 for screwing into and out of tapped rods 73. A finger disk 74 is on the shaft 72 for ease of rotation. The outer ends of the rods 73 have a slot therein for coiitting with the shoes 65. Each shoe 65 has an aperture 75 at its lower end. An anchor spring 76 runs between these two shoes and connects at its ends with these apertures. Naturally,

- the clutch shoes 65 have a brake lining 77.

The drum assembly 53 comprises a brake drum 78 which is attached to a hub 80. The drum 78 has drilled passageways 81 which are aligned with drilled passageways 82 in the periphery of the hub 80. The hub and the drum are united by a bolt 83 and a nut 84. In the inside of the hub is a ball bearing race 79 for cofitting with the shaft 13. Attached to the outer end of the hub is a sprocket. In the clutch assembly 50 the sprocket is identified as sprocket 85 and in the clutch assembly 51 the sprocket is identified as sprocket 86. The hub has tapped holes 87 and the sprocket has aligned drilled passageways 88. A bolt 90 unites the sprocket with the hub. The center of the sprocket receives a ball bearing race 91 which cofits on the shaft 13.

Returning now to the clutch assembly 51 the same is employed to rotate shaft 14 and thereby to cause the toothed chain 35 to run on the arm 25. Interconnecting the sprocket 85 and the sprocket 42 is a chain 92 (FIG- URE l). The power from the shaft 13 is transmitted to the shaft 14 through these two sprockets and the chain.

The control of the clutch assembly 51 is a hydraulic control. in the end of the shaft 13 is a drilled longitudinal hole 93 and in a few inches from the end is a drilled radial hole 94 which connects with 93. Appropriate hydraulic linkage connects the hole 94 with the hydraulic cylinder 62. A rotating hydraulic coupling 96 on the end of the shaft 13 connects with hydraulic tubing 97 which in turn connects with a hydraulic reservoir 98.

An operator-control handle 100 controls the operation of the reservoir. This handle is pivoted at the universal joint 101 and its lower end is connected to lever rod 102. This rod 102 connects with the reservoir 98.

Turning now to the control of the arm 25 it is seen that there is welded to the hub 23 a sprocket 103 which runs through approximately 120. On the upper peripheral edge of this sprocket is welded a lug 104.

Welded to the lateral member 12 is welded a longitudinal supporting member 105. This member 105 supports a lateral shaft 106 and on which is a sprocket The arm 25 is raised by means of a chain 108. End 110 of this chain is attached to or welded to the rear lateral cross-member 12. This chain runs along the sprocket 103; over sprocket 86; under and almost around sprocket 1'07; and, then its end 111 connects with the lug 104. As is realized with the shaft 13 rotating clockwise, see FIGURE 3, the sprocket 103 rotates counterclockwise so as to rotate the arm 25 counterclockwise and thereby raise said arm.

The end of the shaft 13 adjacent to the clutch assembly 50 is tapped similarly to the end of the shaft 13 adjacent to the clutch assembly 51 in regard to the drilled holes 93 and 94. A flexible hydraulic linkage 112 intercon- 4 nects the drilled holes in the shaft' 13 and the hydraulic cylinder in the assembly 50. On the end of the shaft 13 is a rotating hydraulic coupling 113. This coupling connects with the hydraulic fluid reservoir 114 by means of piping 115. The hydraulic pressure in this system is controlled by means of the control handle 100. The lower end of this handle connects with one end of a pusher rod 116 whose outer end is pinned at 117 to leg 118 of bell crank 120. The other leg 121 of the bell crank is pinned at 122 to a rod 123 which connects with the reservoir 114. The bell crank is rotatably pinned at 125 to a support.

With this presentation of the invention before us the operation will now be presented. To raise the arm 25 the handle 100 is moved in direction 126 so as to force the rod 123 in the reservoir 114 and thereby increase the hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic cylinder 62 in the clutch assembly 50. The increase in the hydraulic pressure forces the brake shoes 65 to engage the clutch drum 78. With the clutch drum 78 engaged the sprocket 86 rotates which in turn pulls the chain 108 causing the sprocket 103 and the shaft 14 to rotate. With the rotation of the shaft 14 the arm or crowd 25 raises. So upon moving the handle 100 in the direction 127 the arm lowers because of its own weight and, if present, because of the weight of the log on the arm.

To cause the toothed chain 35 to rotate the handle 100 is moved in the direction 128 so as to force the rod 102 into the reservoir 98. This increases the hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic cylinder 62 in the brake assembly 51. With the increase in the hydraulic pressure the brake shoes 65 contact the clutch drum 78. The clutch drum 7-8 and the associated sprocket 85 thereupon rotate with the rotation of the shaft 13. The chain 92 running between the sprocket 85 and the sprocket 42 drives the shaft 14 so as to run the toothed chain 35. With the movement of the handle 100 in the 130 direction the piston 102 is moved out of the reservoir 98 and the hydraulic pressure is decreased. The clutch members disengage and the toothed chain ceases to move.

To cause both the arm 25 to raise and the toothed chain 35 to move the handle 100 is moved in the direction 131. This forces rods 102 and 123 into hydraulic reservoirs 98 and 114, respectively. The hydraulic pressure in the two cylinders 62 in the brake assemblies 50 and 51 causes the shoes 65 to engage the drums 78 and thereby to raise the arm 25 and to move the chain 35 in a manner already explained. To lower the arm 25 and to stop the movement of the chain 35 the handle 100 is moved in the direction 132.

It is to be realized that the relative movements of the arm 25 and the chain 35 can be varied by the movements of the handle 100 in the various positions above indicated.

A worthwhile advantage of this invention is the sense of feel that an operator realizes from the hydraulic linkage between control handle 100 and the clutch assemblies 50 and 51. This feel makes it possible for him to sense by the touch of the handle the movement of the arm 25 and the chain 35 with respect to the log. The operator has the aid of feel as well as the aid of sight in the movement of the log.

The shaft 13 is the power input shaft. On that end of the shaft near the clutch assembly 50 there is a sprocket assembly 133 and a chain 134 (FIGURE 1). The chain 134 is connected to a source of power (not shown). By previously explained mechanical means the power from the shaft 13 is used to raise and lower the crowd, arm 25 with toothed chain 35, and to run said chain.

It is believed that the operation and construction of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the advantages of the same are apparent. More particularly, one of the most desirable features of this invention is the ability to raise the crowd so that it has the same striking or slapping force in all positions. This is achieved by means of the sprocket 103, the chain 108,

and the sprockets 86 and 107. In many previously used niggers the crowd had more slapping force in a lowered position than in a raised position. With this nigger it is possible to slap or strike a sprocket with equal force in all positions of the crowd. It is to be understood that changes in the minor details of construction, arrangement and combination of the parts may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having presented a specific disclosure of my invention, what I wish to claim is:

1. A log turner, said log turner having a first shaft and a second shaft, a first sleeve on said second shaft, a lever arm connecting with said first sleeve, a first sprocket on said first sleeve, a second sleeve on said first shaft, a second sprocket on said second sleeve, a chain interconnecting the first sprocket and the second sprocket, a first clutch on the first shaft, said first clutch having two engageable members, one member of said two engageable members connecting with the second sleeve and the other member of said two engageable members connecting with the first shaft, a first hydraulic cylinder having a piston, said piston connecting with one of the two engageable members in the first clutch, a first hydraulic reservoir, a hydraulic connecting means between said first hydraulic reservoir and said first hydraulic cylinders, and means associated with the first hydraulic reservoir and under the control of an operator for hydraulically varying the position of the piston in the first hydraulic cylinder so as to control the engagement of the two engageable members in the first clutch; a third sprocket on said second shaft, a toothed chain on said lever arm, said third sprocket in driving relationship with said toothed chain, a fourth sprocket on said second shaft, a third sleeve on said first shaft, a fifth sprocket on said third sleeve, a second chain interconnecting said fourth sprocket and said fifth sprocket, a second clutch on said first shaft, said second clutch having two engageable members, one member of said two engageable members of the second clutch connecting with the third sleeve and the other member connecting with the first shaft, a second hydraulic cylinder having a piston, said piston of the second hydraulic cylinder connecting with one of the two engageable members in the second clutch, a second hydraulic reservoir, a hydraulic connecting means between said second hydraulic reservoir and said second hydraulic cylinder, and means associated with the second hydraulic reservoir and under the control of an operator for hydraulically varying the position of the piston in the second hydraulic cylinder so as to control the engagement of the two engageable members in the second clutch.

2. A log turner, said log turner having a crowd, said crowd comprising a lever, an endless toothed chain on and movable around said lever, first and second spaced shafts, said lever being rotatably mounted on said second shaft, a first sprocket rotatable on said first shaft, a second sprocket fixed on said second shaft and in driving relationship with said toothed chain, a third sprocket fixed on said second shaft, an endless sprocket chain drivingly connecting said first and third sprockets, a first clutch, said first clutch comprising two engageable members, one of said two engageable members of said first clutch being secured to said first shaft, for normally continuous rotation therewith, the other of said clutch members being secured to said first sprocket, a first hydraulic control means hydraulically connecting with the other of said two engageable members of said first clutch and under the control of an operator for hydraulically controlling the engagement of the two engageable members in the first clutch and thereby the movement of the toothed chain, a second clutch on the first shaft comprising two engageable members, one of said two engageable members being secured to a fourth sprocket, the other one of said two engageable members being fixed on the first shaft, a fifth sprocket on the second shaft, an endless sprocket chain drivingly connecting the fourth and the fifth sprockets, a second hydraulic control means responsive to hydraulic pressure, said second hydraulic control means hydraulically connecting with one of said two engageable members of said second clutch and under the control of an operator for hydraulically controlling the engagement of the two engageable members in the second clutch and thereby the movement of the lever arm.

3. A log turner, said log turner having a first shaft, a lever arm rotatably mounted on the first shaft, a first sprocket secured to the lever arm, a second normally continuously driven shaft having a first hydraulic actuated clutch thereon, said first clutch having two engageable members, a second sprocket secured to one of said two engageable members, and rotatable about said second shaft, the other engageable member being secured to said second shaft, a sprocket chain interconnecting the first sprocket and the second sprocket, a first hydraulic control system connecting with the first hydraulic actuated clutch for controlling the engagement of said two engageable members so as to control the raising and the lowering of the lever arm; a third sprocket fixed on the first shaft, a toothed chain on and movable about said lever arm, said third sprocket in driving relationship with said toothed chain, a second hydraulic actuated clutch on the second shaft, said second clutch having twoengageable members, a fourth sprocket secured to one of the two engageable members of said second clutch and normally rotatable about said second shaft, the other of said members of said second clutch being secured to said second shaft, means for driving said first shaft from said fourth sprocket, a second hydraulic control system connecting with second hydraulic actuated clutch for controlling the engagement of said two engageable members so as to control the moving of the chain on the lever arm.

4. A log turner, said log turner having a first shaft normally continuously rotating and a second shaft, a first sprocket rotatably mounted on the second shaft, a lever arm rigidly secured to the first sprocket, a second sprocket rotatable on the first shaft, a sprocket chain interconnecting the first sprocket and the second sprocket, a first hydraulic actuated clutch on the first shaft, said first clutch having two engageable members, one member of said two engageable members being rigidly secured to the second sprocket, the other member of said two engageable members being secured to and rotating with the first shaft, a first hydraulic control system connecting with the first hydraulic actuated clutch for controlling the engagement of said two engageable members so as to control the raising and the lowering of the lever arm; a third sprocket fixed on the second shaft, an endless chain bearing log turning teeth on said lever arm, said third sprocket in driving relationship with said last mentioned chain, a fourth sprocket fixed on the second shaft, a. fifth sprocket on the first shaft, a second endless sprocket chain interconnecting said fourth sprocket and said fifth sprocket, a second hydraulic actuated clutch on the first shaft, said second clutch having two engageable members, one member of said two engageable members of the second clutch secured to the first sprocket, the other member of said two engageable members of the second clutch secured to the first shaft, and a second hydraulic control system connecting with the second hydraulic actuated clutch for controlling the engagement of the two engageable members of the second clutch and the movement of the chain on the lever arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 698,750 Skinner Apr. 29, 1902 1,541,712 Horn June 9, 1925 2,401,258 Liners May 28, 1946 2,631,620 Petersen Mar. 17, 1953 2,648,359 Barksdale Aug. 11, 1953 2,684,696 Gurries et al. July 24, 1954 

